We’ve got another recent event to recap: our annual Weed Pull Event at the Riverton Sandy Bar IBA! This event took place on August 19th, and we had a fantastic turnout of nine volunteers and three IBA staff. This region was granted IBA status based on it historically providing refuge for colonial species such as Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Common Terns, American White Pelicans, and Double-crested Cormorants – along with many types of shorebirds.
Map of Riverton Sandy Bar IBA, including the weed pull area. Courtesy of G. Rieger.
Sandy Bar Beach upon arrival. Courtesy of B. Bell.
However, in comparison to our prior events, our trip to Riverton had a stronger emphasis on habitat stewardship rather than birding alone. Specifically, we aimed to rid a portion of the sandbar of invasive weed species like sweet clover, burdock, horseweed, and Canada thistle. However, the most prevalent species was definitely the sweet clover. If left unchecked, these plants would completely overtake the sandbar, damaging important habitat for Species at Risk like the charismatic Piping Plover: a shorebird that’s equal parts adorable and ecologically important! Their presence is a strong indicator of ecosystem health – a significant reason why we’re motivated to keep this area clear and ensure that suitable habitat is available to them.
A Piping Plover sitting atop its shoreline nest. Courtesy of C. Artuso.
That’s where we come in! Each year, the IBA Program organizes an outing for volunteers to visit this IBA, restore and maintain the shorebird habitat that it offers, and hopefully spot some birds while we work! Our morning began at 8:30 AM, where the group met in the parking lot of the beach. After a short briefing from Program Coordinator Mackenzie, we gathered our weeding supplies – namely, garden clippers, yard waste bags, gloves, snacks, and water – and set out for the sandbar. The one-kilometer trek out to the weeding area led us over sand, stones, and even through a small portion of dense, shrubby woodland.
When we arrived, volunteers dispersed along the sandbar, claiming a section of it to work on. Throughout the morning, we were treated to occasional visits from a flock of peeps: a moniker given to small sandpiper species that are notoriously difficult to ID from a distance. Overall, the team proved to be extremely efficient, with 20+ bags of weeds removed from the area in under two hours – check out those before and after photos! Once our weeding concluded and we filled all the bags we brought along, we made the return trip back to the parking lot. We capped off the morning with a picnic lunch provided by the IBA Program, before dispersing to our respective corners of Manitoba. A very successful morning, to be sure!
The sandbar: before. Courtesy of M. Glover.
The sandbar: after. Courtesy of G. Rieger.
A visit from a flock of peeps. Courtesy of M. Glover.
IBA Program Coordinator Mackenzie, excited about habitat restoration! Courtesy of B. Bell.
A little fellow we encountered on the walk back from the sandbar. Photo by B. Bell.
We would like to thank those who participated for their effort and dedication in helping Manitoba’s Species at Risk! It was yet another successful year of weed pulling, habitat stewardship, and building community. If you’d like to join us at our last event of the season – a shoreline clean-up in Lockport, MB – head to the “Upcoming Events” tab or follow our social media accounts for all the details!
On Saturday, August 15th, the Manitoba Important Bird Areas team visited St. Malo Provincial Park for the Manitoba Fiberglass and Vintage Camper Rally! Program Coordinator Mackenzie kicked off Saturday morning’s events with a talk that included information about the Manitoba IBA Program, Species at Risk in Manitoba, and tips for bird friendly camping.
Mackenzie talking to campers at St. Malo Provincial Park. Photo by Gibson Rieger
After the talk, Mackenzie led a bird walk through the campground to the beach. 14 campers joined us and were rewarded by sightings including a Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, and Purple Martins (visit eBird for the full checklist recorded by Luc Blanchette – thanks Luc!). Program Assistant Gibson even spotted a Ruby-throated Hummingbird after the walk while packing up at the events tent!
A drizzly morning bird walk with campers at St. Malo Provincial Park. Photo by Gibson Rieger
A drizzly morning bird walk with campers at St. Malo Provincial Park. Photo by Gibson Rieger
Thanks to Cindy Greenlay and the Manitoba Fiberglass and Vintage Camper Rally for inviting us and to everyone who braved the rain to attend Mackenzie’s talk and bird walk!
Just a reminder: our Lockport Shoreline Clean-up is scheduled for Friday, September 11th. We could use as many helping hands as possible to gather litter from the shoreline! For more information and to keep an eye out for other events like this one, join our email list and visit our Upcoming Events page.
On Wednesday, August 5th, the Manitoba Important Bird Areas team gathered with a group of volunteers at the Delta Marsh IBA for a general bird blitz!
Diverse bird habitat in the Delta Marsh IBA. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Diverse bird habitat in the Delta Marsh IBA. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Diverse bird habitat in the Delta Marsh IBA. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Map provided to volunteers showing the boundaries of the Delta Marsh IBA, areas for each group to survey, and suggested routes (white dashed line)
Our group of 17 participants split into 5 groups (unfortunately, some participants were unable to attend on the day of the blitz and area 4 on above map was dropped) and followed suggested routes along the southern shore of Lake Manitoba. The survey areas contained various habitat types including open water, shorelines, rivers, agricultural fields, deciduous forests, and, of course, marshes! Additionally, within the boundaries of the Delta Marsh IBA exist Wildlife Management Areas, Game Bird Refuges, and Special Conservation Areas that our groups surveyed in or near.
Bird blitz surveys are performed through a combination of travelling counts by car and on foot and stationary point surveys. During this event, participants recorded a total of 100 different species including six Species At Risk! We regrouped at Delta Beach in the early afternoon to share our sightings and enjoy a picnic lunch provided by the Manitoba IBA Program (along with some additional birding on the beach!).
Read on for a breakdown of what each group saw and enjoy some great pictures taken by the IBA team and volunteers!
Group 1
Eastern Kingbirds posing in a field. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Song Sparrow with a snack! Photo by Brooke Bell
Barn Swallows. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Fantastic Mr. Fox. Photo by Brooke Bell
Map of Group 1’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line)
Manitoba IBA Program team Mackenzie, Brooke, and Gibson started their morning with a point count on the lakeshore before surveying 19.4 km within the westernmost area of the Delta Marsh IBA. Alongside recording the day’s highest count of Barn Swallows (a species that is listed as Threatened by COSEWIC), other species at risk spotted by the group included >250 Bank Swallows and one Eastern Wood-Peewee.
Beginning at the southern shore of Lake Manitoba near the Lynch’s Point Game Bird Refuge and moving southeast following Rat Creek, Group 1 also spotted non-listed species of interest including American Coots, an American Kestrel, four Bald Eagles, Northern Shovelers, eight Red-tailed Hawks, and 160 Red-winged Blackbirds! Species only observed in this group’s survey area included the Caspian Tern, Solitary Sandpiper, and Scarlet Tanager.
Group 2
American White Pelicans squabble over a large fish in the Delta Marsh IBA. Photo by Carson Kearns
A juvenile Franklin’s Gull planning its next step. Photo by Carson Kearns
Juvenile Franklin’s Gull. Photo by Carson Kearns
Map of Group 2’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line)
Donna, Paul, and Carson travelled 31.9 km during their survey along Delta Beach and the Portage Diversion, searching for birds near the Delta Game Bird Refuge. Group 2 also stopped for two point counts, one at the Delta Channel Bridge and the other on the beach near where the Delta Channel meets Lake Manitoba. The group spotted three at-risk species throughout the morning: Barn Swallows, Lesser Yellowlegs (listed federally as Threatened), and Bank Swallows (the most of the day with >450!).
Group 2 obtained the day’s highest counts of a number of waterbird species including American White Pelicans (did you know pelicans are kleptoparasites?), Black Terns, Bonaparte’s Gulls, Forster’s Terns, Great Blue Herons, Greater Yellowlegs, and >300 Western Grebes. Other species only seen by Group 2 included the American Avocet, Belted Kingfisher, Hooded Merganser, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, and Willet – this area was, apparently, shorebird central!
Group 3
Western Kingbird on the wire. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Eastern Kingbird pair. Photo by Brooke Bell
Map of Group 3’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line)
Group 3 surveyed 31.2 km in their area which extended south of Lake Manitoba to the town of Oakland. Eda, Cathy, James, and Nancy recorded four at-risk species in their survey area: Bank Swallows, Barn Swallows, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and Lesser Yellowlegs.
The only Cooper’s Hawk, Sora, and Brewer’s Blackbirds (24) of the day were seen by Group 3, who also recorded the highest count of Purple Martins (50) in the IBA and one of two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers seen this morning! Other interesting sightings by the group included 31 American White Pelicans, 31 Cliff Swallows, and five Northern Harriers.
Group 5
Bobolinks lining a fence. Photo by Garry Budyk
Closeup of a moulting male Bobolink. Photo by Garry Budyk
Closeup of Bobolinks on a fence. Photo by Garry Budyk
Great Egret in flight. Photo by Garry Budyk
Map of Group 5’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line)
Perhaps the highlight of Group 5’s survey was the 57 Bobolinks seen in their survey area which Garry captured wonderful pictures of (see above)! Garry, Rudolf, and Alvin spotted three other species at risk – Barn Swallows, Lesser Yellowlegs, and a single Eastern Wood-Pewee – along 36.7 km in their survey area.
Travelling near St. Ambroise, the St. Ambroise Game Bird Refuge, and the Clandeboye Bay Special Conservation Area, Group 5 had numerous unique sightings including an Alder Flycatcher, Blue Jays, five Double-crested Cormorants, Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Phoebes, one Great Egret, Northern Flickers, and an Orchard Oriole. The group also counted the only Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and the second Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the day, and recorded the highest counts of American Goldfinches and Canvasbacks.
Group 6
Immature Red-winged Blackbird holding an insect in its bill. Photo by Katharine Schulz
Baird’s Sandpiper. Photo by Katharine Schulz
Immature Red-tailed Hawk (possibly a Krider’s subspecies/colour morph). Photo by Katharine Schulz
Map of Group 6’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line)
Jo, Katharine, Parker, and Jan recorded >750 Franklin’s Gulls and >300 Ring-billed Gulls in the easternmost area of the Delta Marsh IBA! Surveying 25.2 km near Twin Lakes and the Dr. Frank Baldwin Wildlife Management Area, Group 6 recorded four at-risk species: Barn Swallows, Bobolinks, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and 5 Red-headed Woodpeckers (the only sighting of the day).
The group spotted the only American Bittern, Great Crested Flycatcher, LeConte’s Sparrow, and Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk (pictured above by Katharine) of the day. Other interesting sightings included three Great Blue Herons and the most American Kestrels (12) and Yellow-headed Blackbirds (>250) of the day.
Conclusion
Waterbirds at the Delta Marsh IBA. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Gray Catbird mid-call. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Spotted Sandpiper peering into the water. Photo by Brooke Bell
Gulls and terns at Delta Beach. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
After regrouping for a picnic lunch at the Delta Beach Campground, a few of the blitz participants walked to the beach and were treated to up-close views of adult and juvenile gulls and Forster’s Terns congregated alongside shorebird species including American Avocets, Lesser Yellowlegs, and a Pectoral Sandpiper.
During the official survey, participants counted over 6,000birds (listed in the table below) – thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers for making this feat possible! The IBA Program has one bird blitz event left this summer at Oak Hammock Marsh on Wednesday, August 26th. We hope to see you there! For more information and to sign up for this or other events (such as our upcoming shoreline cleanup in Lockport), visit our Upcoming Events page.
Following the success of our recent Oak Lake/Plum Lakes Area Blitz, we rode that momentum and enthusiasm all the way into our most recent blitz on July 18th in the Interlake Region. Once again, our target species was the beautiful Red-headed Woodpecker (RHWO) – a Threatened species under Manitoba’s Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act, and federally Endangered under the Species at Risk Act.
An unmistakable bird, the Red-headed Woodpecker has a striking crimson head, a solid white belly, and a black back with white patches on the wings. It’s one of the easiest (and most exciting!) IDs to make in the field. As Gibson had described in our previous event recap, RHWOs nest within tree cavities they excavate. Their preferred habitat is in aspen and oak woodlands with minimal shrubby understorey – they also seek out areas with snags or dead tree limbs. The landscape within the Interlake region checks these boxes, making it prime RHWO habitat!
In previous years, blitzing occurred within the boundaries of the North, West, and East Shoal Lakes IBA. However, this year, the IBA team chose to expand our blitz east of the Shoal Lakes to gain further insight into the occurrence of RHWOs in the broader region. A total of 18 participants – 15 volunteers and three IBA staff – joined us in our search for RHWOs. In the usual fashion, blitzers were organized into six groups spanning the southern Interlake region. Each was assigned to a designated section to explore. Gibson outlined the protocol followed for RHWO blitzes, so please read his recap (linked in first paragraph) for the details! Birding began around 8:00 AM and wrapped up by 12:30 PM. Afterwards, the IBA Program treated participants to a delicious lunch at Fry-Days in Teulon.
Map of RHWO blitz area, including group zones and suggested routes to follow. Courtesy of G. Rieger.
Suitable RHWO habitat, captured in Group 2’s zone. Photo by K. Schulz.
In total, an impressive 98 different bird species were recorded by participants! The real excitement, however, is that our record for the most RHWOs counted was officially broken during this blitz! DRUM ROLL, PLEASE… An incredible 77 Red-headed Woodpeckers were counted, far surpassing last year’s record of 40. This is truly remarkable: the blitz area very well may have the highest population density of RHWOs across Canada. The southern Interlake region has certainly proven to be a remaining stronghold of Red-headed Woodpeckers – a hopeful sign that their population may be stabilizing in this area that provides them with ample suitable habitat.
Let’s have a look at the highlights from each group:
Group 1
Gwen, Bonnie, and Peter comprised Group 1. Their blitzing zone covered the northeastern corner of the region, containing the towns of Winnipeg Beach, Sandy Hook, Husavik, Gimli, and Fraserwood. They counted six Red-headed Woodpeckers! Group 1 also encountered a Barn Swallow (another federal Species at Risk) during their search for RHWOs. Other standouts included a Lincoln’s Sparrow, two Ospreys, and two Sharp-shinned Hawks. They were the only group to catch glimpses of these species – very exciting! Overall, Group 1 identified and counted 93 individual birds.
Red-headed Woodpecker (left profile). Photo by P. Spencer
Red-headed Woodpecker (right profile). Photo by P. Spencer.
Immature Barn Swallow (Species at Risk) perched on a wire. Photo by K. Schulz.
Group 2
Group 2’s members were Jo, Katharine, Robert and Parker. Covering the southeast corner of the blitz region, their zone encompassed the towns of Dunnottar, Petersfield, and Clandeboyne. The Rockwood National Wildlife Area also fell within the boundaries of their zone. I’ve fondly dubbed Group 2 as the “Woodpecker Wonders” – not only did they count five RHWOs, but they also listed an additional five woodpecker species to their checklist! These included two Downy Woodpeckers, four Hairy Woodpeckers, three Northern Flickers, five Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and a single Pileated Woodpecker (the largest species in Manitoba)! Additionally, they were the only group to spot both a single Pectoral Sandpiper and three Solitary Sandpipers, amongst many other neat sightings. Hooray for the Woodpecker Wonders!
Eastern Bluebird on a precarious perch. Photo by K. Schulz.
Merlin showing off those impressive talons. Photo by K. Schulz.
Pair of RHWOs at their nest cavity. Photo by K. Schulz.
Pileated Woodpecker mid-wing flap. Photo by K. Schulz.
Immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on a utility pole. Photo by K. Schulz.
The back end of a RHWO as they enter their nest cavity. Photo by K. Schulz.
Solitary Sandpiper wading in the shallow water. Photo by K. Schulz.
Group 3
Paul, Rachel, and Christian teamed up to form Group 3, and they explored the southwest corner of the blitz area. Within their zone were the towns of Balmoral and Gunton. They were lucky to spot two RHWOs! Of the 158 total birds counted, they also had exciting sightings of 20 Barn Swallows, three Sandhill Cranes, and a Bobolink (Species at Risk). Their Bobolink was one of only three seen throughout the entire blitz! Although all groups reported numerous encounters with raptors, Group 3 were the only ones to spot a Broad-winged Hawk. They also saw the most American White Pelicans, having counted 30. Overall, Group 3 recorded a solid array of species!
Pair of RHWOs on a branch. Photo by M. Glover.
Closeup look at an adult RHWO. Photo by B. Bell.
Savannah Sparrow mid-song. Photo by B. Bell.
Group 4
In Group 4 was Enid, Eda, and Nancy. Assigned to the central portion of the blitz area, their zone included the Inwood WMA and bordered the Shoal Lakes IBA to the west. Group 4 had the third highest RHWO count of the morning – 17 individuals! Isn’t it extraordinary how that’s somehow only a bronze medal!? These ladies also had the second highest count of Western Meadowlarks (25) and took the gold for most Northern Flickers (4). Other highlights included four Barn Swallows, a single Great Blue Heron, and three Sandhill Cranes. What a fantastic lineup!
Western Meadowlark on a fencepost. Photo by E. Kaminski.
RHWO perched on the treetop. Photo by E. Kaminski.
RHWO near the nesting cavity. Photo by E. Kaminski.
Group 5
Group 5 – the IBA staff team – included Mackenzie (Program Coordinator), Brooke and Gibson (Program Assistants). We covered the northcentral portion of the blitz region, which included the town of Inwood, the Sandridge WMA, and a large portion of the Clematis WMA. Speaking from my personal experience, I can say that we were completely overwhelmed by the number of RHWOs we were fortunate enough to witness: a whopping 28! To our best knowledge, this sets a record for the most Red-headed Woodpeckers counted by a single group during a blitz. Throughout our search, we encountered individual adults, pairs, and a family unit – complete with two parents and two juveniles. A very special experience for us all! In addition to the RHWOs, we also spotted an American Bittern in flight, seven Barn Swallows, three Northern Harriers, and various other species for a total of 176 birds counted.
Adult and juvenile RHWOs on a dead limb. Photo by B. Bell.
Juvenile RHWO on snag. Photo by B. Bell.
Prime habitat in the foreground; single RHWO in the background. Photo by M. Glover.
A RHWO who simply knows they’re beautiful. Photo by M. Glover.
Brown Thrasher after takeoff. Photo by M. Glover.
Female Red-winged Blackbird with juicy prey in her beak. Photo by B. Bell.
Group 6
Last but certainly not least, Garry and Rudolf formed Group 6. They searched for RHWOs in the northwest corner of the blitz area. Technically, their zone was the only one to actually venture into the Shoal Lakes IBA – the northern tip. They also had a smaller portion of the Clematis WMA within their zone, as it is spread over multiple sections of land throughout the Interlake region. Group 6 produced the highest count of birds overall, with 887 recorded! Within that number, 19 were RHWOs – the second highest count of the day. They also had the highest numbers of American Kestrels (25), Barn Swallows (30), Wilson’s Snipe (18) and Bobolinks (2). Garry and Rudolf were also the only participants to spot Chestnut-sided Warblers (3), a single Eastern Wood-Pewee, Greater Yellowlegs (2), and Hermit Thrushes (4). If that weren’t enough, the pair also saw the most diversity of waterfowl and waterbirds! A fantastic turnout for Group 6. Lastly, Garry and Rudolf had an interesting encounter with a Killdeer, who was showing them a distraction display – a clever tactic used to divert attention away from the nest by faking an injury.
Killdeer attempting to distract Group 6 by faking an injury. Photo by G. Budyk.
… That brings us to a grand total of 1777 birds seen during our Interlake Blitz, with 77 Red-headed Woodpeckers found! Check out the table below for a complete breakdown of all species accounted for throughout the blitz. A very big congratulations is in order for all our volunteers who participated in this monumental, record-breaking count! Our next event is being held on August 5th at Delta Marsh. We’re anticipating some great birding, and we’d love nothing more than for you to join us. Head over to the “Upcoming Events” tab on our website or follow us on our social media accounts for further details.
The Red-headed Woodpecker was designated as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2018. These birds are cavity nesters, and, in Manitoba, they are most often found in stands of aspen and oak with standing dead trees (snags) and low understory density (e.g., cattle-grazed woodlots). Despite its namesake lake habitat and surrounding marshland, the Oak Lake/Plum Lakes Area IBA, located in southwestern Manitoba, is a hotspot for Red-headed Woodpeckers in the province due to being chock-full of suitable nesting habitat. On Saturday, July 4th, the Manitoba Important Bird Areas team gathered with a group of volunteers at this IBA to carry out our first Red-headed Woodpecker blitz of 2026!
Map showing the boundaries of the Oak Lake/Plum Lakes Area IBA, areas for each group to survey, and suggested routes (white dashed line).
Potential Red-headed Woodpecker habitat in the Oak Lake/Plum Lakes Area IBA. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Our group of 16 participants split into six groups and followed suggested routes during targeted surveys of suitable Red-headed Woodpecker habitat. Each group followed the same protocol during their survey; upon encountering ideal habitat, participants would stop for two minutes to look and listen for Red-headed Woodpeckers and then move at least 300 m away before repeating this process. The Manitoba IBA Program also has a permit that allowed participants to use call playback in the field to draw out Red-headed Woodpeckers during our survey.
Participants recorded a total of 99 different species and 36 Red-headed Woodpeckers. That’s our second-highest count of this species in the six years that we’ve been conducting this annual blitz! Within the boundaries of the Oak Lake/Plum Lakes Area IBA exist multiple Wildlife Management Areas as well as the Oak Lake Game Bird Refuge – for more information on bird habitat conservation in this region, read this CBC News article (featuring Steering Committee Chair Tim Poole!) from 2016. In addition to the 36 RHWOs, a number of other exciting sightings and species at risk were recorded by our volunteers. We regrouped at Oak Lake Beach in the early afternoon to share our sightings and enjoy a picnic lunch provided by the Manitoba IBA Program.
Read on for a breakdown of what each group saw along with some great pictures taken by the IBA team and volunteers!
Group 1
Renee, Tom, Simon, and Parker counted seven Red-headed Woodpeckers during their survey directly north and west of Oak Lake. The group covered serious ground, surveying 50.6 km within their area of the IBA and, in return, recorded the most birds of the day and the most unique species of any group (65 species)!
Group 1 also spotted one member of another woodpecker species, a Downy Woodpecker, and species at risk including Barn Swallows, Bobolinks, and an Eastern Wood-Pewee. Non-listed species of interest seen by the group included an Eastern Phoebe, Northern Harrier, Ovenbird, two Red-tailed Hawks, and five White-faced Ibises! Other species only seen in this group’s survey area included the Chestnut-sided Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Sora, and Spotted Sandpiper.
Red-headed Woodpecker. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
A perching pair of Eastern Bluebirds. Photo by Mackenzie Glover.
Map of Group 1’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line).
Group 2
Louanne and Duane travelled 47.3 km during their survey in the northwesternmost corner of the IBA. Searching near the Assiniboine River and the Lower Assiniboine Wildlife Management Area (WMA), unfortunately, the group saw no Red-headed Woodpeckers. However, they did spot other woodpeckers – one Hairy Woodpecker and one Pileated Woodpecker (the only one of the day) – and other exciting species including three Ovenbirds and one Red-tailed Hawk.
Among the 46 species sighted by Group 2, birds seen only in this area today – perhaps as a consolation for the lack of Red-headed Woodpeckers – included the American Bittern, American Redstart, Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Forster’s Tern!
Western Meadowlark – look at the patterns on those feathers! Photo by Mackenzie Glover.
Map of Group 2’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line).
Group 3
Group 3’s survey area, the IBA’s northeast corner, included the Upper Assiniboine WMA and the town of Oak Lake. Here, Colette and Winnie counted ten Red-headed Woodpeckers and other species at risk including one Bobolink and two Eastern Wood-Pewees along 34.5 km.
Colette and Winnie saw the least unique species of the six groups along their route (26 species) but were rewarded for their efforts with an exciting encounter: a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers chatting away at a nesting site! Lucky for us, they were able to record these birds vocalizing and gave us permission to share that audio here. Turn up your volume and click the button below to play an excerpt from this recording:
Pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers communicating at a nesting site.
Red-headed Woodpecker. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Bobolink posing on a post. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Baltimore Oriole. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Map of Group 3’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line)
Group 4
The IBA Program team (Mackenzie, Brooke, and Gibson) tackled 28.8 km in the area directly east of Oak Lake Beach and extending south to the Oak Lake Game Bird Refuge. Interestingly, high numbers of Red-headed Woodpeckers recorded in this area during previous years appear to have moved elsewhere as the group recorded only a single Red-headed Woodpecker in their survey area. However, the team still had an exciting morning with 52 species recorded, including two other species at risk: Barn Swallows and a Loggerhead Shrike!
Group 4 saw two other woodpeckers during their survey, one Hairy Woodpecker and another that was both too distant and too briefly seen to confidently identify (either a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker). Other non-listed species of interest included the Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, and White-faced Ibis. Unique sightings in this survey area included one Bufflehead, Caspian Tern, and Merlin.
Group 4 also spotted a leucistic blackbird! Identification was tricky as this bird’s mutation masked typical markers used to differentiate Common Grackles and Brewer’s Blackbirds, and other birds of the same species were absent at the time of observation, but Brooke took advantage of the rare opportunity and snapped some great pictures (see below)! After consulting with other birders, the group reached a consensus and identified this anomalous bird as a Common Grackle.
Loggerhead Shrike. Photo by Brooke Bell
Map of Group 4’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line).
Another picture of this Wilson’s Snipe showing off its beautiful plumage and impressive bill… because who doesn’t love shorebirds? Photo by Brooke Bell.
A very aesthetically pleasing photo of a Wilson’s Snipe perched atop a fence post. Photo by Mackenzie Glover.
A very rare leucistic Common Grackle with discoloured feathers on its head and back. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Group 5
Gillian, Gwyn, and Carson spotted the most Red-headed Woodpeckers of the day, recording 12 along 37.6 km in their survey area which began just south of the Plum Lakes and extended east to Deleau! They also saw one Hairy Woodpecker and a number of species at risk among their 59 species sighted. These included Bank Swallows, Barn Swallows, Bobolinks, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and one Sprague’s Pipit!
Other non-listed but exciting species seen by Group 5 include the Black-billed Cuckoo, Dickcissel (the only sighting of the day!), Eastern Phoebe, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, and White-faced Ibis.
Red-headed Woodpecker. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Lark Sparrow. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Map of Group 5’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line).
Group 6
Katharine and Lee Ann recorded six Red-headed Woodpeckers in the southernmost area of the IBA and captured some great pictures of these birds, including one well-timed photo of a woodpecker exiting its nest cavity (see above)! While driving 25.3 km around and through the Lauder Sandhills WMA, the group also spotted one Hairy Woodpecker and a raccoon walking down the road.
Other species at risk seen in this area included Barn Swallows, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and Sprague’s Pipits. Group 6 recorded 52 species during their survey, including the only sightings of a Black-and-white Warbler and yellow-shafted Northern Flicker of the day! They also saw the only game birds from the family Phasianidae of the day, a single Sharp-tailed Grouse and Wild Turkey.
Red-headed Woodpecker emerging from a nest cavity. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Raccoon conducting its own survey of the Oak Lake IBA. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Map of Group 6’s survey area and suggested route (white dashed line).
Conclusion
Survey participants counted over 2000 birds (listed in the table below) and a total of 36 Red-headed Woodpeckers – thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers for making this feat possible! If you’re feeling a bit of FOMO after reading about this outing and wish you got to see Red-headed Woodpeckers (along with all the other exciting sightings), you’re in luck! Our next IBA Event on July 18th is another Red-headed Woodpecker Blitz in the Interlake Region. For more information and to sign up for this or other events, visit our Upcoming Events page.
We had yet another successful IBA event on June 24th – our birding walk at Assiniboine Park! Here, we’ll recap the highlights and share some photographs captured by those who joined.
A birding hotspot in Winnipeg, Assiniboine Park is home to a vast array of songbirds and waterfowl species – it’s also common to see corvids, shorebirds, raptors, and more. We knew we’d be in for a treat but were just hoping that Mother Nature would cooperate! Luckily, and after days of rain, the dreary weather held out (for the most part) and we were able to enjoy a lovely morning at the park. We had a fantastic turnout of 16 participants and three IBA staff, and saw a total of 22 avian species!
We first began by following a forest path that ran perpendicular to the English Gardens. Lush with trees and shrubbery, our group laid eyes on songbird species like the American Redstart, Northern Yellow Warbler, and Eastern Phoebe. A pair of Hairy Woodpeckers were also seen!
Eastern Phoebe perched on a branch. Photo by Brooke Bell.
An American Redstart regrouping after an altercation with another male. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Hairy Woodpeckers on a well-used tree limb. Photo by Juan Vasquez.
After exploring the forest path, we made our way to the Assiniboine Park Footbridge, which has provided gorgeous views of the Assiniboine River to parkgoers for nearly 100 years. The birds certainly did not disappoint here! We saw a large group of Cliff Swallows performing their characteristic aerial acrobatics. As well, we came across a busy Wood Duck mother, who had nearly 20 ducklings trailing behind her. Wood Ducks can lay upwards of 15 eggs per clutch – so all these little ones may be her biological offspring, but she more than likely is also acting as a foster parent to ducklings she’s collected along the way. Either way, she’s doing a wonderful job of caring for these babies!
We also were treated to an exciting encounter with a juvenile Bald Eagle who soared right above us, offering an unobstructed view of their mottled pattern (which makes them easily confused with Golden Eagles!). What a surprise to see how different they look as subadults, compared to when they’re full-grown! They won’t develop that signature white head until around five years of age. Lastly, a single Spotted Sandpiper was also seen hanging out on the banks of the river.
A young Bald Eagle soaring above the riverbank. Photo by Juan Vasquez.
A mother Wood Duck leading her ducklings under the footbridge. Photo by Juan Vasquez.
Our penultimate leg of the walk brought us through the fields of the Assiniboine Park, past the Lyric Theatre and Pavilion to the duck pond. Along the way, we saw Purple Martins (our largest swallow species in Manitoba!), Chipping Sparrows, and a lot of Canada Geese. Goslings were different ages, which provided a neat comparison of their stages of development as they continue to grow.
A large group of goslings, with an adult Canada Goose keeping watch. Photo by Juan Vasquez.
A Purple Martin captured in between wingbeats. Photo by Juan Vasquez.
The group making our way through the park. Photo by Gibson Rieger.
At the duck pond, we saw that many taxa were enjoying the water. A Song Sparrow stopped by for a drink, and a Western Painted Turtle found a comfortable rock to sun themselves on. We also finally laid eyes on the Great Crested Flycatcher we’d been hearing all morning!
A Western Painted Turtle enjoying the sunshine. Photo by Juan Vasquez.
A Song Sparrow stopping by for a little drink. Photo by Juan Vasquez.
A Great Crested Flycatcher finding a vantage point. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Our final portion of the walk took us to the Chimney Swift Tower, constructed by the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative. Just before we arrived at the tower, a Red-eyed Vireo was practically posing for our cameras. These birds are notoriously difficult to spot, since they spend most of their time in the tree canopy. We didn’t see any swifts entering or exiting once we arrived at the tower – but cameras inside the tower confirm that it’s being used. A nest was built, and incubation of the eggs laid is currently underway! Participants then departed from this spot – the morning truly sped by!
A Red-eyed Vireo practically begging to be photographed. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Views at the Assiniboine Park Tower. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Nesting activity within the Assiniboine Park Tower. Photo by Assiniboine Park Conservancy.
… And with that, another IBA event is in the books! We have more exciting events planned over the summer and would love it if you’d join us. Birding is for everybody, and we encourage all birders – regardless of skill level – to attend! Head to the “Upcoming Events” tab on our website or follow us on social media for all the details ☺
On Sunday, June 7th, we embarked on our first bird blitz of the season. The IBA team and our group of fantastic volunteers headed to the Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-Grass Prairie IBA. This post will recap our intentions and results of the event, and is jam-packed with amazing photographs captured during our morning of birding!
As suggested by its name, the Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-Grass Prairie IBA is situated in the southwestern-most corner of the province. The area borders Saskatchewan to the west and North Dakota to the south. It is largely considered to be the last remaining stronghold of native mixed-grass prairie in Manitoba, as most of this habitat has now been converted to other land use types.
Although we identified and counted numerous bird species present in the IBA while blitzing, our primary goal was to find our eight grassland Target Species. On this list were the Baird’s Sparrow, Bobolink, Burrowing Owl, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Ferruginous Hawk, Grasshopper Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and Sprague’s Pipit. These birds depend on native grassland habitat for their survival – with its disappearance has come a steep decline in their population numbers, and they are all now of conservation concern both provincially and federally.
On the evening prior to the blitz, participants spent the night in Melita and other surrounding areas. In fact, we came to realize that Melita has a keen awareness of its reputation for being the “Grassland Bird Capital of Manitoba”. The beloved banana statue also proudly displays a Blue Jay named Breezy who represents the town’s IBA status!
Sunny the Banana with their pal Breezy the Blue Jay. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Birding began at 5:30 AM on Sunday morning (… you know what they say about the early bird getting the worm!). The event had the most participants in recent history, with 21 volunteers and three program staff braving the weather for the sake of the birds. And on the note of weather: our morning began stormy. Caution was encouraged as the safety of volunteers was paramount – but as the morning progressed, conditions improved significantly. Participants were divided into seven groups, with each assigned to a designated area within the IBA to cover.
Map of Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-Grass Prairie IBA with colour-coded group sections.
Stormy sunrise over the grasslands. Photo by Mackenzie Glover.
Group 1
Group 1 consisted of Colette, Katharine S., Lewis and Ken. Their area covered the northeast section of the IBA containing the town of Melita, the Broomhill WMA, and the Gerald W. Malaher WMA. The team had a successful morning of birding, having seen three Target Species! This included Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and a Loggerhead Shrike. As well, they documented and photographed some other standout species (see photos below), including the only Pie-billed Grebe seen throughout the entire morning!
Wilson’s Snipe on a fencepost. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
A vigilant Upland Sandpiper. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Grasshopper Sparrow (Target Species) singing their insect-like song. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Ominous cloud formation above Group 1’s area. Photo by Katharine Schulz.
Group 2
Jackie and Devon teamed up to form Group 2. They covered the central eastern portion of the IBA, south of Melita. The Pierson WMA fell within the boundaries of their section. The pair checked off an impressive six Target Species: a Baird’s Sparrow, Bobolinks, a Chestnut-collared Longspur, Ferruginous Hawks, a Grasshopper Sparrow, and a Sprague’s Pipit. Out of all the groups, they observed the highest number of Ferruginous Hawks (two)! Jackie and Devon also had a very exciting observation of three Lark Buntings – a species rarely seen up until recently, but that has historically been known to breed in southwestern Manitoba. While not a Target Species for this blitz, the Lark Bunting is listed as Threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Target Species) peeking above the grass. Photo by Devon Vachon.
A pair of Lark Buntings on a fence. Photo by Devon Vachon.
Marbled Godwit on full display. Photo by Devon Vachon.
Group 3
Mackenzie, Brooke and Gibson made up Group 3. Their designated area spanned across the southeastern edge of the IBA, which included the town of Lyleton. Along their route, the group was treated to a beautiful farmland landscape – and even made a couple bovine friends along the way! In terms of Target Species, they found a Grasshopper Sparrow and Bobolinks. Amongst their other highlights, one species stands out: the Dickcissel! It was the only individual of this species observed during the blitz. Their sporadic occurrence in Manitoba made the sighting all the more special.
A group of longhorn cattle grazing in the grasslands. Photo by Mackenzie Glover.
A beautiful Dickcissel perched on a wire. Photo by Mackenzie Glover.
Bobolink caught in the wind (featuring cows). Photo by Brooke Bell.
Western Meadowlark serenading Group 3. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Sharp-tailed Grouse on a fencepost. Photo by Brooke Bell.
Group 4
Group 4 was made up of Colin, Carter, Lucas, and Jaxx. Their zone was the southwest corner of the IBA, which also contained the Frank W. Boyd WMA. They had the highest counts of two Target Species – a remarkable 26 Bobolinks and three Loggerhead Shrikes – and saw many Grasshopper Sparrows, as well. The group was also treated to a Great Horned Owl observation, which was the only owl species documented during the entire blitz! Other highlights include Bank Swallows, a Great Blue Heron, and a Red-headed Woodpecker. Although not a Target Species for this specific blitz, Red-headed Woodpeckers are Threatened in Manitoba, and Endangered across Canada.
Group 5
This group comprised Luc, Carson, Marvin, and Duane. Their area covered the western edge of the IBA. Of the Target Species, Group 5 had sightings of Baird’s Sparrows, Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Sprague’s Pipits. This group also had the only Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe and Great Crested Flycatcher observations of the blitz. Overall, they recorded an impressive array of species (see photos below)!
American Bittern trying to blend in. Photo by Carson Kearns.
Bobolink (Target Species) perched on a wire. Photo by Carson Kearns.
Say’s Phoebe perched on wooden structure. Photo by Carson Kearns.
Willet wading in a prairie pothole. Photo by Carson Kearns.
Eastern Kingbird perched on a branch. Photo by Carson Kearns.
Group 6
Emily, Matthew, and Gillian formed Group 6. They were assigned to the northwest corner of the IBA and had the Mixed-grass Prairie Preserve within it – a protected area of critical habitat for our Target Species. Group 6 counted the second-highest number of individual birds during the blitz and observed the most Target Species! They found Baird’s Sparrows, Bobolinks, Chestnut-collared Longspurs, a Ferruginous Hawk, Grasshopper Sparrows, Loggerhead Shrikes, and a Sprague’s Pipit. Group 6 tied with Group 5 for the highest number of Baird’s Sparrows observed (two). They also counted the most Chestnut-collared Longspurs (18) and Grasshopper Sparrows (25) out of all the groups. The group encountered many other songbirds, waterfowl, and shorebird species, as well!
Group 7
Last, but certainly not least: Group 7 consisted of Kris, Kathryn H., and David. Group 7 covered the centermost portion of the IBA, which included the town of Pierson. Overall, they counted the highest number of individual birds: a whopping 1231! They just narrowly had the highest overall count – Group 6 was only one bird shy of making it a tie, with a total of 1230 birds counted. They also had the most observations of Sprague’s Pipit (four) out of all the groups and checked the Grasshopper Sparrow and Bobolink off the Target Species list, as well. Among their many sightings, others of note included the only Eastern Towhee of the blitz, a Great Blue Heron, a lone Snow Goose, and a Lesser Yellowlegs.
Once birding concluded around noon and the sun began to shine, groups all met up in Melita. Everybody was treated to a delicious lunch at Chicken Chef, courtesy of the IBA Program. We spent time exchanging stories, sightings, and photos before heading to our respective destinations – Winnipeg for some, Brandon for others, and many other towns in between.
Our grand total of birds observed was 6517 individuals across 114 species – wow! We want to sincerely thank everyone who participated in and contributed to this event. As an organization rooted in citizen science, we are powered by the dedication and care you bring to this work.
Are you interested in joining us for our next blitz? Head to the “Upcoming Events” tab on our website for more information or email Mackenzie at iba@naturemanitoba.ca. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more bird content! We hope to see you at our next event.
On May 23rd, the IBA team held our first outing of the year, an exciting morning of birding at the Whitewater Lake IBA! Gillian Richards of the Westman Naturalists led the group through the IBA, showing us all the best spots to see a variety of bird species.
Whitewater Lake is a famed destination for birders hoping to see a variety of shorebirds and waterbirds in Manitoba. In fact, while there we crossed paths with another group of birders, one of whom was embarking on a big year! Water levels at Whitewater Lake can fluctuate greatly between years; in “wet” years, the lake provides important nesting habitat for gulls, wading birds, and waterfowl, while the surrounding farmland allows geese to graze and raptors to hunt.
Map of route taken during survey at the Whitewater Lake IBA.
In total, 12 people participated in the Whitewater Lake survey. We met some of the volunteers in Brandon at 7 am and carpooled to the IBA, where the rest of the group joined us around 8 am. Travelling together through the IBA by car and stopping at several points along the way to set up spotting scopes and survey the birds present, we covered approximately 25 km along the north side of the lake that morning. At each stop, Sandy scanned for a count of all the birds present and the group worked together to identify species and come up with species-specific counts. Here, I will break down what we saw at each stop and provide a full summary table listing the total species counts at the end.
American Avocet on the run. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Blue-winged Teal pair. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
American Golden-Plovers. Photo by Brooke Bell
We made it less than 3 km from our meet-up point before our first stop of the day where, along road 448 N, we spotted a number of shorebird and waterfowl species in a muddy pond surrounded by farmers’ fields. Species sighted here included the American Avocet, American Golden-plover (identified as an Orange Alert Tipping Point species in the North American Bird Conservation Initiative’s 2025 State of the Birds report), Double-crested Cormorant, Gadwall, Killdeer, Redhead, and Willet.
Stop two was brief and yielded mainly grassland birds such as the Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Savannah Sparrow, and Western Kingbird.
Clay-coloured Sparrow. Photo by Brooke Bell
At stop three we walked along a treed stretch of gravel road with the goal of spotting sparrows and warblers. We succeeded, recording one each of the Clay-coloured Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Northern Yellow Warbler. Additional sightings included an American Kestrel, a pair of Cedar Waxwings, and three Western Meadowlarks.
The tick-laden trail to stop four. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Dunlins and Stilt Sandpiper. Photo by Brooke Bell
Dunlins. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Dunlin. Photo by Brooke Bell
Our furry friend and mascot for the day, Geordie. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Our fourth stop gave us our first direct view of Whitewater Lake. Here we had the incredible opportunity to view Dunlins, Baird’s Sandpipers, Stilt Sandpipers (Orange Alert species), White-rumped Sandpipers, and hundreds of Least Sandpipers and Semipalmated Sandpipers (Orange Alert species) in close proximity as they probed a nearby narrow stream and the lakeshore. Other birds sighted further off in the lake included American Avocets, Eared Grebes, Red-necked Phalaropes, and Ruddy Ducks. In the adjacent fields we spotted two Northern Harriers and one Sora, Marsh Wren, Nelson’s Sparrow, and Sedge Wren.
Scope set up at stop five, with pants tucked fashionably into our socks. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
Semipalmated Sandpiper steppin’. Photo by Brooke Bell
Goose fly-by. Photo by Brooke Bell
The fun continued at our fifth stop where new shorebirds sighted included the Sanderling (Orange Alert species) and Upland Sandpiper. Waterfowl spotted included the Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ross’s Goose, and Snow Goose, and we also spotted two Black Terns!
Swainson’s Hawk. Photo by Brooke Bell
Willet showing off its distinctive white wing bars. Photo by Brooke Bell
Finally, we saw two Marbled Godwits and one Swainson’s Hawk on the drive from stop five and, at our sixth and final stop of the morning, we had the pleasure of viewing a large group of Black-bellied Plovers (Orange Alert species). Mixed in with the approximately 100 Plovers, a few eagle-eyed volunteers spotted 2 Red Knots (Orange Alert species and listed as Endangered under SARA), 3 Ruddy Turnstones (Orange Alert species), and a handful of Wilson’s Phalaropes.
Shorebird assemblage on Whitewater Lake. Photo by Mackenzie Glover
We had lunch and snacks in the field after our final stop around 1 pm. In all, we sighted 1,190 birds from 66 species. A big thank you to Gillian and the Westman Naturalists for guiding our outing and to the volunteers that joined us at Whitewater Lake (Gina, Joy, Kristopher, Renee, Ron, Sandy, Tom, and Zara)! Thanks as well to Brooke and Mackenzie for sharing photos from the day.
For news about our upcoming events, keep an eye on our website, follow us on Instagram or Facebook, or email Mackenzie at iba@naturemanitoba.ca to join our email list. We have an exciting summer ahead of us!
In addition to hosting bird blitzes in IBA’s throughout the province, we also conduct habitat stewardship activities at various sites. In 2025, these events included a Weed Pull at the Riverton Sandy Bar IBA, and a shoreline clean-up along a section of the Red River in Lockport.
First up was the Riverton Sandy Bar Weed Pull on August 20. This is an event that we’ve hosted for a number of years, where we ask volunteers to help us remove invasive plants from the sand spit, which historically has been a nesting site for the Endangered Piping Plover.
14 volunteers braved the wind and the drizzling rain to help us remove weeds from the beach, and by the end of the day, the crew had filled 9 yard waste bags! Incredible work!
The weed pulling crew. Photo by MarissaThe crew hard at work. Photo by MarissaA beach clear of weeds! Excellent work! Photo by Marissa
It wouldn’t be an IBA event without some birding! We saw 2 Bald Eagles flying overhead, one of which still had mottled white feathers on it’s wings, marking it as a juvenile eagle. Some other species that were spotted including 11 Common Terns, a Great Blue Heron, 5 American White Pelicans and a Merlin. Thanks to Dayle and Joanne for sharing your eBird list with us!
Juvenile Bald Eagle. Photo by MarissaIt wouldn’t be an IBA event without some birding! Photo by Marissa
Our last event of the season was a shoreline clean-up along the Red River in Lockport on September 10. The targeted area was just downstream of the Lock and Dam, at the Lockport Heritage Park. Despite it being a very hot and sunny day, we had 17 volunteers come out and help us remove discarded fishing gear and other garbage from the Red River shoreline.
The low water levels in the river allowed volunteers to venture out onto the exposed rocks, where they had some close encounters with foraging shorebirds. Groups of American White Pelicans flew overhead, and a Common Raven came to see what all the action was. Thank you to our incredible team who braved the heat to help improve this section of shoreline habitat along the Red River.
Our Lockport Shoreline Clean-up Volunteers! Photo by MarissaThe clean-up site. Photo by MarissaGreater Yellowlegs foraging in the shallow areas of the Red River. Photo by MarissaA Common Raven came to see what all the action was on the shoreline. Photo by MarissaA group of American White Pelicans hanging out by the dam outlet. Photo by MarissaFlyby of even more American White Pelicans! Photo by MarissaBeautiful fall colours along the Red River shoreline. Photo by Marissa
With that, we have finished recapping our summer 2025 events. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered for our events this summer, you make our work possible! These events were also made possible through funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program.
Keep a close eye on our Upcoming Events page, our social media, and your email inboxes for our 2026 events, coming soon! If you would like to be added to our mailing list, send me an email at iba@naturemanitoba.ca! We’re always looking for new volunteers, and all experience levels are welcome.
Hi folks! I’m back with our last blitz recap of the summer 2025 season! Almost time to start planning for this year’s events and I can’t wait! Our last Blitz of the season was on August 28th at the Oak Hammock Marsh IBA. Oak Hammock likely needs no introduction, being a site that has long been popular with birders for its proximity to the City of Winnipeg and its many accessible walking trails, but I’m going to give one anyway. I have my master’s in ecological restoration, so I can’t resist a good restoration success story.
When settlers first arrived in southern Manitoba, they came upon a vast marsh that stretched from what is now the north Perimeter Highway all the way to present-day Teulon. Over time, all this water was drained, and the land was converted to agriculture, leaving almost no trace of the wetland that once defined the area. That was until the 1960’s and 70’s, when the Provincial government began buying private lands to restore a small section of the original marsh. Though only a fraction of its original size (from approx. 47,000 hectares to its current size of 3600 hectares), the marsh restoration has been a huge success. Oak Hammock Marsh was designated as a provincial Wildlife Management Area in 1973 and received designation as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 1987. Due to its importance for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, Oak Hammock was also designated as an Important Bird Area in 1999. Today, Oak Hammock is home to the national headquarters of Ducks Unlimited Canada, and the newly renovated Harry J. Enns Wetland Discovery Centre, and remains an important stopover site for migrating birds.
On a personal note, my first visit to Oak Hammock Marsh was in 2022, when I was working as a Conservation Technician with Native Plant Solutions. On my first visit to the site, I was armed with a flaming drip torch, helping with a prescribed burn to rejuvenate the tallgrass prairie plants right next to the Wetland Discovery Centre entrance. It was a visit I won’t soon forget, and I’m very much looking forward to returning to conduct blitzes this summer.
How’s that for a segue! The August 28 blitz at Oak Hammock Marsh was another general bird blitz, and we asked volunteers to record any and all birds that they spotted while out on their routes. For this blitz, we had four groups of volunteers that split up throughout the IBA according to the map below. Each group started birding at 7:30 am and wrapped up by 11:30 to meet for lunch at the Wetland Discovery Centre Café.
It was a beautiful, misty morning on the marsh. Once the sun broke through the mist, it revealed dew-covered fields sparkling with many, many spider webs. A perfect start to a morning of birding! Thank you to Katharine for the gorgeous photos capturing the mood of the morning!
A misty start to the morning. Photo by Katharine.
Dew sparkling on a field of spider webs. Photo by Katharine.
Our first group was made up of Marissa, Amaia and Kiefer. They started by traveling north up Road 13 E. The most notable observation on the first leg of this journey was a total of 150 Sandhill Cranes seen flying overhead and standing in the roadside fields. A total of 80 Mallards were spotted along this route, and several species of sparrow including Chipping Sparrow (1), Swamp Sparrow (1), and Savannah Sparrow (11). Next, the group ambled along the Perimeter Dyke Trail to reach the North Observation Mound. On this short section of trail, the group observed 22 different species, including 17 Barn Swallows and 6 Bobolinks, both species at risk.
Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. Photo by Marissa.
Our next group consisted of Jo, Jan, Betsy and Katharine. They began birding on Road 13 E, south of group 1, near the Artesian Spring. Along this route, group 2 also recorded 150 Sandhill Cranes with the note that they were heard to the northwest. Given that group 1 also observed 150 cranes, I’m going to assume that these were likely the same birds, as the sound of the Sandhill Crane’s unique call can carry very long distances. This group also observed 2 Wilson’s Snipes and 8 Savannah Sparrows on this route.
Sandhill Cranes taking off from a field. Photo by Marissa.
Group 2 then spent some time walking through the tallgrass prairie area near the intersection of Road 13 E and Road 79 N. They were rewarded with several prairie species including 3 Sharp-tailed Grouse, 3 Bobolinks, and a Western Meadowlark. To finish their morning, group 2 traveled south on Route 220, passing the Lure Crop, where they saw an additional 14 Sandhill Cranes. Along this route they also observed 8 Barn Swallows, another Bobolink, another Wilson’s Snipe and a Downy Woodpecker. A diverse crowd for such a small area!
A grumpy-looking Barn Swallow. Photo by Marissa.
Next up was group 3, consisting of Emily, Matthew, Graham and Joanne. This group hit the trails, covering the area to the northeast of the Wetland Discovery Centre. While our first two groups tended to have a mix of wetland and grassland habitats, as they drove along the edge of the marsh with crops to their west, groups 3 and 4 were firmly in the marsh, which shows in the species assemblages they observed.
A Northern Harrier finding its next meal in the wetland vegetation. Photo by Marissa.
Group 3 started around the Wetland Discovery Centre, birding along the Killdeer and Jackrabbit Trails. On this first leg, the group observed 37 species, including a large flock of geese made up of 600 Canada Geese and 100 Snow Geese; five different species of shorebird (Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper); Barn Swallows (25) and Cliff Swallows (3), and a total of 350 Red-winged Blackbirds.
Greater Yellowlegs spied through the cattails. Photo by Marissa.
The group then made their way along the aptly named Wren Trail, where they observed 7 Sedge Wrens. The waterfowl was abundant on this section of their route, with 125 Mallards, as well as more Canada Geese (43), Northern Shovelers (2), a Gadwall (1), and Northern Pintails (10). They also added Wilson’s Snipe (9) and White-rumped Sandpiper (4) to their shorebird list and saw 13 Bobolinks.
Wilson’s Snipe. Photo by Marissa.
Next, the group walked along the (again aptly named) Teal Trail, where they observed both the Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal. From the lookout, the group spied five Trumpeter Swans, an Endangered species under the provincial Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act. Group 3 finished their assigned routes by following the Coot and Cattail Trails, where they observed many of the same species already identified, with the addition of four species of gulls including Bonaparte’s (2), Franklin’s (53), Ring-billed (21) and the American Herring Gull (2).
Pectoral Sandpiper. Photo by Marissa.
Our fourth and final group was made up of Bonnie, Gwen, and Paul, covering the trails to the southwest of the Wetland Discovery Centre. Bonnie, one of our seasoned shorebird surveyors, led the way along the International Shorebird Survey (ISS) Routes. They started along the ISS Route 1, which covers the Duck Pond Trail, and the Observation Blind, then north along the Lagoon Trail. On this first route, the shorebirds were out and about, with 12 Killdeer, 36 Wilson’s Snipe, 13 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, and 1 Least Sandpiper spotted. This was in addition to another Trumpeter Swan, 46 Mallards, and many other species of waterfowl. Despite all that, the highlight of this route had to have been the approximately 15,000 Red-winged Blackbirds spotted in migration. Wow!
A cloud of Red-winged Blackbirds over the marsh. Photo by Marissa.
Red-winged Blackbirds. Photo by Marissa.
The final route for this group was ISS Route 2, taking the birders along Toad Road and the Blackbird Trail, before doubling back and following the Willow Trail back to the Wetland Discovery Centre. On this route the group observed 4 more Trumpeter Swans, 11 American White Pelicans, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 24 Barn Swallows, and a Bobolink.
American White Pelicans. Photo by Marissa.
A Merlin posing in the willows. Photo by Marissa.
A Common Grackle showing off his iridescent blue head while perching on a fence post. Photo by Marissa.
Overall, it was a successful morning of birding, with 17,649 individual birds from 83 different species observed. A full table of observations is included below. As always, a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this blitz, we truly couldn’t run without our volunteers. You’re awesome! This event was also made possible through funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program. Thank you!
And with that, I am done recapping our 2025 IBA Bird Blitzes. Thank you for following along! I’ll be back with one more recap of our habitat stewardship events that took place in August and September, and then it’ll be into full-time planning mode for the summer. Make sure to follow along to stay informed on our upcoming events. If you’d like to join our mailing list to stay up to date, send me an email at iba@naturemanitoba.ca!
